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chemical injuries

Drugs are another important cause of poisoning. It is a pharmacological principle that, for any therapeutic gain derived from a drug, a price is paid. There are few drugs used today that have no
side effects (i.e., effects unintended when the drug is administered). Although these
side effects may be harmless and inconsequential, certain drugs have
side effects that are potent. Similarly, a drug...

clinical trials

...the first trial of the drug in humans. A safe dose, determined from testing in animals, is used as the starting dose. If tolerated, the dose is increased slowly in small groups of participants until
side effects are noted. The trial is terminated when either the highest dose that can be given to humans with acceptable
side effects has been reached or, in the absence of
side effects, an effective...

psychotropic drugs

...such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and hydroxyzine (Atarax). These tend to be used less frequently than the benzodiazepine hypnotics because of an increased morning hangover effect and other
side effects. The distinction between antianxiety drugs and hypnotics is not clear, because many can serve both functions. Small doses of hypnotic benzodiazepines are effective antianxiety agents,...

radiation and chemotherapy

The undesirable effects of radiation therapy are divided into acute and late effects. Acute effects occur in rapidly renewing tissues, such as the linings of the oral cavity, the pharynx, the intestine, the urinary bladder, and the vagina. Late effects, which are related to the total dose of radiation received, include scar formation (fibrosis), tissue loss, and creation of abnormal openings...

The
side effects of chemotherapy vary greatly among individuals and among drug combinations. Side effects arise because many chemotherapeutic agents kill healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, anemia, loss of ability to fight infection, and a greater propensity to bleed may be caused by chemotherapy. Many
side effects can be minimized or palliated and are...

anticancer drugs

The specificity of anticancer drugs plays an important role in reducing the severity of
side effects associated with the drugs’ use. Indeed, because cancer cells are similar to normal human cells, anticancer agents are generally toxic to normal cells and can cause numerous
side effects, some of which are life-threatening. Such
side effects include hair loss, sores in the mouth and on other...

bladder cancer

...using either external beams or surgically implanted radioactive rods or pellets. Radiation is usually employed following surgery to destroy small amounts of remaining cancerous tissue. The
side effects of radiation treatment may include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or skin irritations resembling a sunburn.

brain cancer

...focus the radiation. For instance, a device called a gamma knife, which emits a highly controllable beam of radiation, may be used. Even when radiation is localized, however, radiotherapy can cause
side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, or skin irritation. Radiation to the brain may cause scar tissue to form and potentially cause future problems. Memory loss may also occur.

breast cancer

...therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy. Radiation is usually employed—either to shrink tumours before surgery or to destroy small amounts of cancerous tissue remaining after surgery. Side effects of radiation include swelling or thickening of the breast, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, or skin irritations resembling sunburn. Chemotherapy, the use of chemicals to destroy cancerous...

cervical cancer

...an internal target tissue. Brachytherapy, on the other hand, uses implanted radioactive rods or pellets to focus the radiation on the cancer and greatly reduce
side effects. In addition to the
side effects normally associated with radiation treatment, pelvic radiation therapy may also cause premature menopause, bladder irritation, or a narrowing of the vagina due to scar tissue buildup.

esophageal cancer

...cancer, but it may be used either before surgery to shrink the size of the tumour or following surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy is also used to relieve symptoms. The
side effects of radiation treatment include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and esophageal irritation. Chemotherapy is also used for some esophageal cancers. It is not curative, but it can relieve some...

lung cancer

...tumours or following surgery to destroy small amounts of cancerous tissue. Radiation treatment may be administered as external beams or surgically implanted radioactive pellets (brachytherapy). Side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or additional damage to the lungs. Chemotherapy uses chemicals to destroy cancerous cells, but these chemicals also attack normal cells to varying...

therapeutic drugs

...codeine being one of the most frequently used. Several safer nonnarcotic antitussive (cough-preventing) agents are available, such as dextromethorphan, which has almost equal effectiveness but fewer
side effects. Most cough preparations containing dextromethorphan also contain a decongestant and an expectorant. Because coughing is an important defense mechanism in clearing secretions from...

...varies among individuals, so does the response to drugs. Some people need higher-than-average doses; some, being very sensitive to drugs, cannot tolerate even average doses, and they experience
side effects when others do not.

antihistamines

Used in sufficiently large doses, nearly all antihistamines produce undesirable
side effects; the incidence and severity of the
side effects depend both on the patient and on the properties of the specific drug. The most common
side effect in adults is drowsiness. Other
side effects include gastrointestinal irritation, headache, blurred vision, and dryness of the mouth. A patient who does not...

antimicrobial agents

A number of antimicrobial compounds produce significant toxic effects in humans, but they are used because they have a favourable chemotherapeutic index; that is, the amount required for a therapeutic effect is below the amount that causes a toxic effect. The levels of these drugs in the patient must be controlled carefully so as not to reach toxic levels. Persons with certain altered organ...

vaccines

Vaccination carries some risk of reaction, though adverse effects typically are very rare and very mild. The most common reactions to vaccines include redness and soreness around the vaccination site. More severe adverse reactions, such as vomiting, high fever, seizure, brain damage, or death, are possible for some vaccines. Such reactions are exceptionally rare, however—occurring in less...

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